State

Member of the State Board of Education

Vote for: 2
Term: 8 years
Candidates: 10
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: The eight-member State Board of Education sets policy for Michigan's public schools and appoints the state superintendent of public instruction.

Candidates Compare by issue

Terence Collins

Republican

Senior financial analyst, General Motors · Grosse Pointe Park

The gist

Proposes requiring phonics training for all teachers sooner
Opposes gender identity guidelines in school health standards
Supports better pay for special education paraprofessionals
Supports the federal tax credit scholarship program
Pledges focus on reading, writing, math and careful spending
Supports a stronger parental voice in education decisions

More about Terence

View sources (3)

Proposes requiring phonics training for all teachers sooner
Who are the Michigan State Board of Education candidates? What to know.
News coverage · Bridge Michigan · Sep 23, 2026 · bridgemi.com
“Collins said the state is waiting too long to mandate phonics training for every teacher.”
Opposes gender identity guidelines in school health standards
Who are the Michigan State Board of Education candidates? What to know.
News coverage · Bridge Michigan · Sep 23, 2026 · bridgemi.com
“The guidelines, certainly the new gender identity guidelines, I think they have no place in public education or really any education”
Supports better pay for special education paraprofessionals
Who are the Michigan State Board of Education candidates? What to know.
News coverage · Bridge Michigan · Sep 23, 2026 · bridgemi.com
“making sure that we address the funding issue so that parapros, it’s seen as a profession”
Supports the federal tax credit scholarship program
Who are the Michigan State Board of Education candidates? What to know.
News coverage · Bridge Michigan · Sep 23, 2026 · bridgemi.com
“He also disagrees with Maleyko’s lack of support for the federal tax credit scholarship program”
Pledges focus on reading, writing, math and careful spending
About Me - Terence Collins for Michigan State Board of Education
Campaign website · Terence Collins for Michigan State Board of Education · collins4misboe.com
“I will return the focus to reading, writing, and math while ensuring that every tax dollar is spent wisely.”
Supports a stronger parental voice in education decisions
My Focus - Terence Collins for Michigan State Board of Education
Campaign website · Terence Collins for Michigan State Board of Education · collins4misboe.com
“We must ensure parents have a strong voice in their children's education decisions.”

Bree Moeggenberg

Republican

Recruiter for a canvassing company; licensed child care provider · Mt. Pleasant

The gist

Opposes instruction about gender transition in schools
Proposes revisiting the Michigan Merit Curriculum graduation requirements
Supports smaller classes and more recess time
Supports redirecting school spending rather than adding money
Supports legislation clarifying special education teacher training
Pledges to weigh parental rights in every board decision

More about Bree

View sources (2)

Opposes instruction about gender transition in schools
Who are the Michigan State Board of Education candidates? What to know.
News coverage · Bridge Michigan · Sep 23, 2026 · bridgemi.com
“She is against instructing students about transitioning gender identities.”
Proposes revisiting the Michigan Merit Curriculum graduation requirements
Who are the Michigan State Board of Education candidates? What to know.
News coverage · Bridge Michigan · Sep 23, 2026 · bridgemi.com
“Moeggenberg wants the state to revisit the Michigan Merit Curriculum, the state’s high school graduation standards.”
Supports smaller classes and more recess time
The Focus - Bree Moeggenberg Campaign Website
Campaign website · CTE Bree Moeggenberg · bree4misboe.com
“Smaller class sizes must be considered. Added recess and movement time is crucial for brain development in all ages of youth.”
Supports redirecting school spending rather than adding money
The Focus - Bree Moeggenberg Campaign Website
Campaign website · CTE Bree Moeggenberg · bree4misboe.com
“We don't need more money to increase student success, we need more useful spending”
Supports legislation clarifying special education teacher training
Who are the Michigan State Board of Education candidates? What to know.
News coverage · Bridge Michigan · Sep 23, 2026 · bridgemi.com
“praised legislation that would clarify what type of training teachers need to have in special education.”
Pledges to weigh parental rights in every board decision
The Focus - Bree Moeggenberg Campaign Website
Campaign website · CTE Bree Moeggenberg · bree4misboe.com
“PARENTS: Does it respect and honor the rights of parents?”

Charles Essner

Libertarian

The gist

No documented position found.

More about Charles

William Mohr II

U.S. Taxpayers

The gist

No documented position found.

More about William

Christine C. Schwartz

U.S. Taxpayers

The gist

No documented position found.

More about Christine

Wissam Charafeddine

Green

The gist

No documented position found.

More about Wissam

Mary Anne Hering

Working Class

The gist

No documented position found.

More about Mary

Kelli Monroe

Natural Law

The gist

No documented position found.

More about Kelli

Judith Pritchett

DemocraticIncumbent

Education consultant; retired public school administrator · Washington Township

The gist

Supports making literacy the schools' first priority
Supports smaller class sizes in Michigan schools
Proposes revisiting science standards and embedding AI in standards
Supports the board's review of special education procedures
Supports State Superintendent Glenn Maleyko's direction

More about Judith

View sources (1)

Supports making literacy the schools' first priority
Who are the Michigan State Board of Education candidates? What to know.
News coverage · Bridge Michigan · Sep 23, 2026 · bridgemi.com
“the bottom line is, literacy has to come first.”
Supports smaller class sizes in Michigan schools
Who are the Michigan State Board of Education candidates? What to know.
News coverage · Bridge Michigan · Sep 23, 2026 · bridgemi.com
“She wants to see schools move to smaller class sizes and the state emphasize the importance of parents reading to their young children.”
Proposes revisiting science standards and embedding AI in standards
Who are the Michigan State Board of Education candidates? What to know.
News coverage · Bridge Michigan · Sep 23, 2026 · bridgemi.com
“Pritchett said she would like to revisit the science standards and find ways to ensure that artificial intelligence is embedded into various state standards.”
Supports the board's review of special education procedures
Who are the Michigan State Board of Education candidates? What to know.
News coverage · Bridge Michigan · Sep 23, 2026 · bridgemi.com
“the board is beginning to look at that to be able to come up with some suggestions and possible changes in procedures”
Supports State Superintendent Glenn Maleyko's direction
Who are the Michigan State Board of Education candidates? What to know.
News coverage · Bridge Michigan · Sep 23, 2026 · bridgemi.com
“I’ve been very, very pleased with the direction he’s taking us”

Tiffany Tilley

DemocraticIncumbent

Adjunct professor and Realtor · West Bloomfield

The gist

Sponsored a resolution urging mandatory teacher literacy training
Supports funding schools based on student needs
Supports a stronger pipeline to recruit and keep teachers
Supports teaching history, including African American history
Supports school mental health, meals and social-emotional support
Supports investment in school technology and broadband access

More about Tiffany

View sources (2)

Sponsored a resolution urging mandatory teacher literacy training
Who are the Michigan State Board of Education candidates? What to know.
News coverage · Bridge Michigan · Sep 23, 2026 · bridgemi.com
“Tilley sponsored a resolution last year urging the state to adopt mandatory training for teachers and praised the state’s new requirement.”
Supports funding schools based on student needs
Tiffany Tilley for State Board of Education
Campaign website · Friends to Elect Tiffany Tilley · votetiffanytilley.com
“Michigan must fund schools based on the needs of the students they serve.”
Supports a stronger pipeline to recruit and keep teachers
Tiffany Tilley for State Board of Education
Campaign website · Friends to Elect Tiffany Tilley · votetiffanytilley.com
“Michigan must build a stronger pipeline into the profession while improving the conditions that encourage talented teachers and school staff to stay.”
Supports teaching history, including African American history
Who are the Michigan State Board of Education candidates? What to know.
News coverage · Bridge Michigan · Sep 23, 2026 · bridgemi.com
“students need to know history, including African American history.”
Supports school mental health, meals and social-emotional support
Tiffany Tilley for State Board of Education
Campaign website · Friends to Elect Tiffany Tilley · votetiffanytilley.com
“Safe schools, mental health resources, nutritious meals, positive relationships, and strong social-emotional support all matter.”
Supports investment in school technology and broadband access
Tiffany Tilley for State Board of Education
Campaign website · Friends to Elect Tiffany Tilley · votetiffanytilley.com
“We will advocate for investments in technology, broadband access, and updated facilities”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 5 issues covered in this race.